I suppose the only mote of softening news, here is that this latest new case arose in an already-known contact of the woman who died last week — an aunt who provided the first woman — with care. Thus, this flare-up remains definitively within the 100 or so known contacts, already being quarantined (voluntarily) and monitored, by local health- authorities.

Most of the 27 or so high risk contacts have likely already received Merck’s vaccine candidate, as an emergency precaution (assuming they’ve consented to being part of the clinical field trial). Sadly, and in sum, we should prepare ourselves for more of this. It will require long term vigilance — and significant changes in behaviors, among the exposed — to avoid travel or other contacts for at least 42 days, and very proactive hygiene, more generally, in affected locales. Here’s a bit from CNN, overnight — do go read it all:

. . . .The two cases are connected. The latest patient — a woman being treated in the capital, Freetown — is an aunt of a 22-year-old woman who died of Ebola last week in Sierra Leone, World Health Organization spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said Thursday.

The aunt, who had cared for her sick niece, tested positive for the virus after developing symptoms while in quarantine Wednesday. . . .

Truly heart-breaking. But it will indeed take time, resolute safe practices, and patience, to completely tamp this latest flare-up all the way out. Onward — do enjoy the snow — and one anothers’ company!